Pumpkin-headed scarecrows, new play equipment and free lunches for children are all on offer this October half term at Dyrham Park in South Gloucestershire.

The family scarecrow trail will run through the parkland at the 270-acre National Trust site near Bath and Bristol from Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October. As well as a 'welcome scarecrow' at visitor reception, there will also be seven scarecrow stations dotted around the site for people to track down.

The trail will finish at Old Lodge, the newly revamped play area in the parkland. In the summer, stepping logs, play kitchens, balance beams, garden games and a log tunnel were added alongside the old favourite full-sized red and blue tractors.

This month a new range of five climbing frames for older children were installed. There's also a new café with indoor and outdoor seating along with an ice cream kiosk and toilets all created in restored historic farm buildings. There are also plenty of picnic benches, both undercover and outdoor, for those with their own picnics.

Dyrham Park is included in a National Trust kids eat free offer for the half-term week where children can have a free lunch box for every £5 spent in our main tea-room or café at Old Lodge. Please note, this offer is for selected National Trust properties only and not available everywhere.

The parkland and garden are rich with autumn colour as the trees start to turn, and the house, with newly-restored rooms, is open each afternoon.

Ann Fiddler, visitor operations manager at Dyrham Park, said: 'It's a stunning time to visit Dyrham Park with the parkland and garden full of autumn beauty and temperatures still quite mild.

"We're delighted to be offering a fun scarecrow trail to get families out and about in nature this half-term. It's great that the second phase of play equipment is now in and fully open at Old Lodge. Lastly, we're really pleased to be part of the 'Kids Eat Free' offer for half-term week to help make a day out a little more affordable for families.'

Scarecrow trails are £2 each and include a prize. Normal admission charges apply with free entry for National Trust members.

Dyrham Park, including the Old Lodge play area, is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. The new café at Old Lodge is open from 10.30am until 4pm and the ice cream kiosk will stay open an extra half an hour until 4.30pm. The tea-room is open from 10.30am until 4.30pm. The house is open between 12pm and 4pm.

More information can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park